Verna Goh, Gordon Lim and Lucas Lim share their experiences of going under 3 hours and achieving new personal bests at the 2024 Berlin Marathon
The BMW Berlin Marathon is a race famous not only for its fast course but also for its rich history in world records, and has long been a mecca for elite marathoners aiming to break personal bests.
In recent years, the pursuit of the elusive sub-3-hour marathon time has become a central goal for recreational and competitive runners alike. Few athletes from Singapore achieve this feat each year, but the Berlin Marathon this year witnessed two new names added to the list.
SportPlus.sg spoke with Verna Goh and Lucas Lim, who went under 3 hours in Berlin for the first time - setting new personal best(s) in the process for the duo whose dreams of crossing the finish line in under three hours became reality.
Even then the unassuming Verna, a New Balance athlete, shared that she did not have a target goal in mind for her race, saying: "I don’t usually set goals or goal paces going into races, as I don’t like to set limits on what I can or cannot do. As such, I did not have a target time, although I did hope to better my previous time."
She ran her race in the New Balance SC Pacer v2, and her result of 2:57:41 not only saw her eclipse her previous time by 10 minutes, but also helped her qualify for Boston.
"I feel like being able to qualify for other races is an added bonus, but not the main reason why I run. I’m happy to be able to qualify for the Boston Marathon though, as that is one of the races I definitely want to check off my bucket list," she shared with SportPlus.sg.
For Lucas, breaking the 3-hour mark was his goal heading into the Berlin Marathon, only his second full marathon. The former stunt actor first made his full marathon bow at the 2023 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, in which he clocked an impressive time of 3:30:04.
Even then, he felt that any timing under 3:15 at Berlin would have already been acceptable for him by his standards - but to actually achieve his "A" goal opened doors for him and fuels greater self-belief.
"I think the prep was really critical for this race. I honestly did not release the accelerator pedal since SCSM 2023, with races and events lined up through till Berlin 2024."
"So fitness wise I was at holding on to that peak that created a strong foundation for me. It was very cold that morning, way colder than I was used too. I struggled to stay warm and my teeth were chattering through the first 10K. I think it took my mind off the race anxiety as I was preoccupied with trying to stay warm," he said.
Wearing the ASICS Metaspeed Edge Paris, Lucas blazed his way to a time of 2:58:02, eclipsing his previous personal best by over 30 minutes.
He concluded: "This timing really does open up a few doors for me. I am not really one to plan runcations but I believe anything can happen now."
Meanwhile, Physiotherapist and SEA Games athlete Gordon Lim, who is no stranger to running sub-3 hour marathons also achieved a new personal best at the 2024 Berlin Marathon with a timing of 2:35:39, eclipsing his previous personal best set five years ago by two minutes.
When asked how he felt about his achievement, the New Balance and Team Singapore athlete said: "The target was to just get a personal best. Prior to this my personal best was 2:37 set back in 2019. It was a long time ago and I wanted to better that timing since 2022."
"I think the unpredictability of marathon running is also why it becomes so addictive. We always want to better ourselves and hopefully train in a way that it becomes more predictable. But unfortunately it doesn't. I've learnt from a friend of mine who mentioned that "visualisation" is a double edged sword."
He adds: "Sure we can always try to visualise what happens on race day but once things go out of plan, we start panicking and fail to deal with it well. Since then, I have learnt to not have too many strategies in a marathon and take it one kilometre at a time."
Gordon was wearing the New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v4 for his Berlin Marathon race.
The Allure of the 3-Hour Mark
For some, the 3-hour marathon is a line in the sand that separates amateur and hobby runners from elite athletes, a marker that signals not just dedication, but a level of innate athleticism paired with unparalleled discipline and the demands of a rigorous structured training block, a keen understanding of pacing, and a solid race strategy.
For recreational runners who may have run marathons before, but found themselves clocking times between 3:30 and 4:00 hours, breaking the 3-hour mark can feel like the Holy Grail — the ultimate reward for years of grueling preparation and attempts with multiple failed efforts.
Berlin, with its flat terrain and near-ideal conditions, is widely regarded as one of the fastest marathons in the world. For years, it has been the stage for iconic moments in marathon history. Most notably, in 2018, Eliud Kipchoge shattered the world record on the streets of Berlin with a time of 2:01:39. But the charm of Berlin isn’t reserved for elite athletes alone. Its flat course, cool autumn weather, and the sheer energy of the city make it the perfect environment for breaking barriers — both physical and psychological.
The Rise of Sub-3:00 Marathons
Once considered a feat achievable only by highly trained professionals, running a marathon in under 3 hours is becoming a more realistic goal for dedicated amateurs. The increase in training programs, personalised coaching, and advancements in running shoes and nutrition have helped bridge the gap between elite athletes and serious hobbyists. Moreover, the global community of marathoners is growing, with more runners participating in events like Berlin’s, driven by the shared goal of achieving personal excellence.
The Mental Game: From Training to Triumph
However, crossing that 3-hour threshold isn’t just about physical preparation. It’s also a mental game. When a runner approaches the 32 km mark — the fabled "wall" — maintaining focus becomes crucial. The knowledge that a significant portion of the race remains, paired with the physiological effects of running for hours, makes mental fortitude just as important as the ability to run fast.
Breaking the 3-hour barrier means embracing the discomfort of a long-distance race and pushing through those final miles with a sense of purpose. During training, marathon hopefuls spend hours mastering pacing, working on hydration and nutrition strategies, and developing mental fortitdue.
The psychological shift from simply completing a marathon to aiming for a time goal like sub-3:00 is one of the hardest aspects of the journey. It’s not only about enduring, but about executing a race plan that holds up when fatigue sets in.
More Sub 3 Hour Marathoners To Come?
In the years to come, breaking the 3-hour barrier might no longer be the domain of a select few in Singapore — it could well be within reach of local runners pursuing personal excellence. What’s exciting about this trend isn’t the number of runners under 3 hours, but the fact that these races offer new levels of inspiration and motivation to everyone who dares to lace up their shoes and take on the challenge, whatever their backgrounds.
Berlin, as always, will be right there as one of the fastest courses and top choices for athletes to pursue a personal best - and a city that not only celebrates speed but champions the belief that with the right mindset and determination, anything is possible. #SgRunners #Marathon #BMWBerlinMarathon
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